Tykwer's previous ­ and third ­ feature, Lola rennt (Run Lola Run), took in excess of two million admissions domestically, later bagging $7.2 million at the US box office.

The deal announced yesterday for the world, excluding German-speaking territories and North America, marks Le Studio Canal+'s first collaboration with Berlin's X-Filme, which also produced Lola rennt.

Starring Franka Potente and Benno Fürmann, Der Krieger und die Kaiserin, about two people who must save each other before falling in love, will be ready in the spring.

Jørn Rossing Jensen